start-up help needed PLEASE!!

[tdcmf]

Hi,i recently lost my management job after 15 yrs of loyal,dedicated service.i REALLY do not want to get back into store management or furniture sales.i was advised by a friend that i should start a pressure washing business.i have looked into it before but do not have ny experience pressure washing .it is something i really want to do.i just want to learn every aspect of the business before i just jump in.i was considering a franchise but they are out of my range as far as money.can i start one with a small portable unit?and buy bigger as my business grows.i basically just want to clean houses to start and then maybe move into fleets or trucks.is there a class i could take or any good books on starting this kind of business.what about software for billing and such.if a smaller unit would be ok which one should i go with .i would like to make as much as i did in management(33000)hah which shouldnt be hard.if anybody has any suggestions for me please email me @ tdcmf@yahoo.com .i would really appreciate the help.

 

[PressurePros]

If you don't have 5 grand to start up, forget about it. Your first year look to make about 18k (poverty)

I'd look for another job to have steady income and some benfits and work part time with an existing company to learn the ropes.

 

[oneness]

i have looked into it before but do not have ny experience pressure washing .it is something i really want to do.

If you have no experience, how do you know it is something you really want to do? I second the suggestion that you first get some experience working with another company, or at the very least rent a machine and do work for friends or relatives before you sink a pile of your own cash into something you may not even enjoy.

As for $5k startup, depends on how you start up. You can do it cheaper, but not much, or it can cost quite a bit more than that.

i was considering a franchise but they are out of my range as far as money.can i start one with a small portable unit?

Not really. Depends on what you mean by a small portable unit. I wouldn't consider trying to make money washing with anything less than a 3000psi 4+gpm machine.

i would like to make as much as i did in management(33000)hah which shouldnt be hard

Why shouldn't that be hard? Sure, go buy a $200.00 electric pressure washer, watch a couple videos, and bang, you're raking in the bucks!

Take a few days and read lots of back posts. That'll give you a good bit of information on where you need to start.